Playing in a blustery, torrential downpour, the Redmond High girls’ golf team was hoping for more ideal conditions for their big 4A Kingco golf showdown with undefeated Newport at The Golf Club at Newcastle.

Having played in bad weather all season, however, the Mustangs fought through Mother Nature’s fury, which overturned golf bags and flipped umbrellas inside-out with abandon in addition to the heavy rain and hail.

On a day where a bogey was a great score, the elements finally won out as it began to snow mid-way through the round and the match was called, a highly unusual circumstance. It was an important decision given all that was at stake — the Mustangs’ 83-match Kingco win streak dating back to 2003, as well as both teams’ undefeated league records.

“I’ve coached golf for 18 years and have never had a match called,” said Redmond head coach Jake Crowley.

A great example of the battle the girls were facing was on the second hole at Newcastle’s China Creek course, a 120-yard downhill par-3. Typically, a short iron or even a pitching wedge would land the ball on the putting surface, but not on Wednesday.

With a gale-force wind and pounding rain directly in their faces, girls were electing to take long irons off the tee, still coming up short of the green.

“The weather — snow, rain and wind-chill —was unhealthy for the kids,” explained Crowley on the decision to stop play. “The match was not a test of skill or course management, but one of surviving the elements, which isn’t golf.”

As of press time, the match has been rescheduled for Friday, May 6, but The Golf Club at Newcastle is an extremely popular golf venue with a typically booked schedule, so course availability is not guaranteed.

“We are trying to find out right now,” said Redmond athletic director John Appelgate of the potential reschedule. “We don’t know if the course will be available.”

Added Crowley, “Kingco said the only day we can reschedule is May 6. If the golf course can accommodate then the match will be on Friday… if the golf course cannot accommodate, then Newport and Redmond will be co-regular season champions.”

In the meantime, the Mustangs will take on Inglemoor in their final away match of the season, at Inglewood Golf Club in Kenmore, on Tuesday at 3 p.m.